Push button switch



. y 1959' J. J. ISPICERQJR Y 1 2,886,674

" PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed Aug. 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "3 v I I jig-.8

INYENTOR United States Patent John J. Spicer, In, Philadelphia, Pa.,

trial Enterprises, Inc., a corporation 2,886,674 PUSH BU'ITON SWITCH assignor to Indusof New York Application August 7, 1957, Serial No. 676,804

This inve particular relates to commonly known as the push button type.

While the switches of the invention herein :are useful in a wide variety of application's, the

6 Claims. 01. 200- 159 ntion relates to switching devices and in improvements in switching devices switches .are particularly suitable for use in automotive vehicles,

for example, as a switch which is actuated by the open- ;ing and closing of a door, :and the like.

Push button switches hav on passenger and truck stance such type, that is a door is cIo modern-day to have an a glove compartment, a hood circuits which contribute to the usefulness of thevehicle and the convenience of the all doors of owner. For example, when a vehicle are closed, it may be desirable to energize some circuit for indicating that the doors are in fact closed opening of the doors and the like.

or some circuit for preventing inadvertent For economy sake,

:such a circuit ordinarily requires a switch which will "energize and deenergize two separate circuits when the switch is in one position and switch is in the converse when the another position, for example, a single-pole,

double-throw switch. The use 'of such a switch on ve- "hicles, however, does not of the type circuit, i.e.,

which merely makes and breaks a single a single-pole, single-throw switch.

Further in connection with the automotive field, manufacturers have been desirous of presenting cars having highly pleasing style and design. Thus it is desired tohave a visible push the decor of button type switches equipped to fit invwith the car, for example, providing a doorpush button switch with a stainless steel type bezel. The manufacturing co sts of switches of the kind in question are ice I Patented May 12, 1959 which is highly reliable on operation and whichhas a long life. I t

To provide a push button switch the visible portion of which has a highly pleasing appearance without .any

sacrifice of efficiency, operation and longevity of'use.

" Toprovide a push button type switch equipped with a stainless steel bezel can be manufactured at a cost the following descriptionand disclosed W a circuit may be de-energized when I i eliminate the need for a switch rmovable terminal 4 together with a spring 6 whichurges the assembly upwardly or figured in terms of pennies and adding a component made -of expensive material such as stainless steel imposes an additional 'c present invention, limited the attrac'tive de With the 0st factor which, until the advent of the possibility of utilizing an sign. above in mind then,

that among the objects of the present invention are:

, To provid [construction e improvements in push button switches of a so that the tooling is usable in the manuit will be understood ,ber 5, the term nal 4, thehousing 1 tothe metal door tactureof either a single-pole, single-throw switch or a, V single-pole, double-throw switch. I t

To provide improvedlpush. button switches having numerous interchangeable parts so as .to keep tooling and inventory costs to a minimum.

To provide push button pole,

throw type,

double-throw type or of the single-pole, single- 9.#9 of Figure 6;

'10.-10.of Figure 6; and

parts removedt,

ure 1, it will be seen that the single-pole,

this position the movable engage to establish an electrical contact as is generally frame of a car.

commensurate with push button swltches not having a corresponding attractive design. I

The manner in which the switch is constructed and certain other objects and features will "be apparent from drawings wherein: Figure l is a side elevational view partially in section illustrating the invention as embodied in a single-pole, single-throw push button switch withfcertain members in engagement to establish an electrical contact;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 except that the members establishing the electrical contact have been moved out of engagement; t Figure 3 is a side elevational view illustrating in particular means provided on the switch for mounting the same; I 1 Figure 4 is an enlargedview taken along the lines 4--4 of Figure l; t v

Figure 5 is an enlarged view taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 1; r a

Figure 6 is a side elevational view partially in section illustrating the invention as embodied in a single-pole, double-throw'p'ushbutton switch with certain members establishing an electrical circuit engaged with one another; Figure "7' is a view similar to Figure 6 with the contact establishing members of Figure 6 out of engagement and with certain other members in engagement ,to establish another electrical contact;

Figure 8 is ticular means same; 1

Figure 9 is an enlarged view taken along the lines Figure 10 is an enlarged view taken along thelines Figure 11 is a view jsimilar to Figure l0twith certain Referring to the drawings and particularlytoFigsingle-throw assembly 2. comprising a push button 3'and a terminal 4 mounted for reciprocating motion in the housing,;a conductor member 5 in electrical engagement with the in the position as shown. In terminal 4. and the housing 1 indicated at 7. I I

The housing is made of metal and is adapted to be mounted (by means described later) in say the door When the door is opened, the assembly assumes the position shown such that there is an electrical circuit established between the conductor mem-' frame. I When the push button is actuated as, for example by the closure of the door, the assembly is moved .,to the position shown in Figure 2 so that the electrical switches of improved design and. having an arrangement oft parts which are easily and contact is broken. t t I Turning now to the details ofv construction, it be seen that the housing 1 comprises a generallycylindrically shaped frame 10 which is provided with axially extending slots as indicated at ripheral fastening members 12 and three equally spaced 11 forming three equally spaced pej mounting members 13 each having fradiallyextending which a$. a g asgfasw e go h,

shoulders as indicated at 13a.

'The fastening members 12 are formed to flare outwardly as shown in Figure 3 so that the frame can be pushed into a mounting recess which action tends to move the members 11 inwardly and thereby exerting an outward. force which holds the switch in position.

Forming part of thehousing is a metal bezel 14 having an upstanding conical portion with an aperture 15 which slidably supports the push button 3. The lower part of the bezel is provided with a bent over keeper portion 14a which is adapted to engage with the shoulders 13a on the frame whereby to hold the frame and bezel together. As stated heretofore, the bezel is preferably made from stainless steel and is polished so as to enhance its decorative effect.

On the bottom of the housing is a base 20 made of insulating material and provided with an aperture 21 which is in alignment'with the aperture 15 and slidably supports the terminal 4.

The movable terminal 4 is hollow, elongated and provided atits upper end with three equally spaced arms 22 which surround and tightly grip the base portion 23 (see particularly Figures 2 and 4) of the push button.

Inter-posed between the base 20 and the arms 22 or push button 3 is the spring 6 which, it will be seen, is gemerally barrel shaped in cross section, the upper and lower ends of which are tightly wound around the terminal. This prevents the spring from having excess radial movement whereby to eliminate the danger of the spring grounding the terminal to the housing.

With the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, it will be apparent that each of the arms 22 engages the conical portion of the bezel. to establish an electrical contact. Since the contact ismade by the motion of the terminal toward the apex of the conical portion and thefact that the conical portion of the bezel has someresiliency there is .a wiping action when the contact is made. This is an important feature since any good electrical contact should be established by a wiping action. I

The movable terminal 4 is made of conducting mate- 'rial such as copper and is stamped to the proper shape and then wrapped into a cylinder with an axially ex- "tending slot-as indicated at 25 in Figures 1 and 5. The

conductor member 5 has a connector 26 which is pressed into' t'he 'r'novable' tenninal'4 and,being oversized, tends to expand the same whereby to establisha firm electrical ontaet Thejsin'gle-pole,double-throw switch of Figures 6l1 next be'described. This switch uses several parts 'whi'ch'are identical or similar to those used in the struc- -ture 'of the switch of Figure'l, and these will be identi- "fie'd by corresponding numerals having a prime mark and the details ofconstruction can be eliminated. By comparingFig ures l and 6, it will be observed that the {push-buttons 3 and 3', the'bezels 14 and'14', the springs and"6' are the same; that the frames 10 and 10 are si'rriila'r, theonly difierence being that the bottom on theframelO is removed; that the movable terminals "4 and f4 are also similar, the only difference being that "the terminal 4' has-three radially extending feet 27;and that the conductor'member 5' with its connector 26 are the same as the corresponding parts of Figure l. The frai'he 1Q has similarslots 11' which form the fastenn'embersl 2' and mounting members 13 so that the Iswitch is adapted to be mounted in a manner similar as :ez plained ,in connection with Figure l. It will be observed that the base 20 in the switch of Figure 6'is c'on- I siderably different from the base, 20 in Figure l, the

dii ferent structure being for'the purpose of providing for "anadditi'onal poleor contact point. I

Qne pole or contact point of, the switch of Fight-e 6 ...m 1 fihe n a em t if a: t rmin l a bezel 1 4' and the; other poleor contact point is made the 'interengagement 'of. the terminal rename fixed "contact 28.

The base 20 is generally cylindrical in shape and formed with interior cavities supporting various of the components to be mentioned. The top of the base 20 has three equally spaced small projections 30 which are received by the slots 11' in the frame, the action of the spring 4 which is operatively interconnected between the push button 3 and a cavity 31 in the base pushes downwardly on the base so as to cause engagement of the projections in the bottom of the slots. The projections prevent the base from turning. As bestseen-in Figures 6 and 10, the base h as an internal cavity 32 through which extends the terminal 4. About the cavity 32 are three slots 33 in which are-respectively disposed the radially extending feet 27. The slots provide for freedom of back and forth movement of the terminal but prevent the same from rotating.

As best seen in Figure 9, the terminal 28 extends inwardly through a slot 34 in thebase 20' where his shaped in the form of a ring-like portion 35 which is disposed in the base cavity 36. This ring-like portion has three inwardly extending arms 37. On the outer periphery of thering are-three equally spaced'projections 40 whichrespectively fit into the lowermost portions of the slots 33., The base 20' is provided with another cavity 41 which mounts, a spring 42 which is compressed as between the uppermost portion of the cavity 41 and-the arms 37 of the terminal 27. The force exerted by the spring-pushes downwardly on the terminal to firmly press the -abutments'40 on the bottom of the slots and thus firr'n-lyhold theterminal in position.

The spring is preferably made from a metal which will allowthe'same to conduct current yet maintian its springlike action, forex-ample, the spring is preferably formed from a copper alloy.

With'the parts as viewed in Figure 6, the arms 22' of the terminal 4'-engage the bezel 14 as indicated at 7' to establish an electrical contact and'the feet 27 on the movable terminal 4' are separated from the spring 42. When the push button is moved and the parts assume the position shown in Figure 7, the electrical contact between the bezel and the terminal 4' is broken while the feet 27 engage and'compress the spring 42 so that an electrical circuit is established between the conductor 57, the terminal 4', the spring 42 and the fixed terminal 28. When the push, button is released, the parts move upwardly so that the contact is.;broken'and-the original contact established.

1. In a switch: a housing; a movable terminal to en- -gage and disengage the housing; means supporting the terminal and causing yielding engagement of the housing and the movable terminal, the engagement establishing an electrical contact; a fixed terminal; and a metal spring operatively interconnected between the fixed terminal and the fixed insulator, the metal spring being arranged to be engaged and compressed by said movable terminal to establish anelectrical contact between the movable terminal, "the metal spring and the fixed terminal whenthe push button ismoved to 'efiect breaking of first said electrical contact.

a 2. switch comprisingz'an elongated hollow'metaL frame; a metal bezel'mounted on one end of said'frame and formed with a centrally disposed aperture; a base made of'insulati'ng material fixedly mounted on the opposite end of said frame and having a centrally disposed aperture in alignment with first said aperture; a push button-made of insulating material extending outwardly throughthe'bezel'aperture; an elongatedterminal connected with said push button and' extending-throughisaid and terminal being mounted in said apertures for freedom of reciprocating motion; a spring urging said assembly in a direction out of said bezel aperture to effect engagement of the terminal and bezel whereby to establish an electrical contact which is broken by movement of the assembly in a direction opposite to first said direction.

3. A switch comprising: an elongated hollow metal frame; a metal bezel mounted on one end of said frame and formed with a centrally disposed aperture; a base made of insulating material fixedly mounted on the opposite end of said frame and having a centrally disposed aperture in alignment with first said aperture; a push button made of insulating material extending outwardly through the bezel aperture; an elongated terminal connected with said push button and extending through said base aperture, the assembly comprising the push button and terminal being mounted in said apertures for freedom of reciprocating motion; a spring urging said assembly in a direction out of said bezel aperture to etfect engagement of the terminal and bezel whereby to establish an electrical contact which is broken by movement of the push button in a direction opposite to first said direction; a fixed terminal mounted in said base; and a metal spring operatively interconnected between the base and the second terminal, the second spring being ar ranged to be engaged and compressed by the movable terminal when the push button is moved in said opposite direction to establish an electrical contact between the movable terminal, the metal spring and the fixed terminal.

4. A switch comprising: a hollow metal housing; a movable electrical terminal in said housing; a push button made of insulating material mounted on and extending from said housing and connected with said terminal for imparting reciprocating motion thereto; a spring urging the push button in one direction whereby the terminal and housing engage to form an electrical contact which is broken by the movement of the push button in a direction opposite to first said direction; a fixed terminal mounted on and insulated from said housing; and a second spring mounted on and insulated from siad hous ing and engaging said fixed terminal and arranged to be engaged and compressed by said movable terminal when the push button is moved in said opposite direction to establish an electricalcontact between the movable terminal, the second spring and the fixed terminal.

5. A switch comprising: a metal housing; a fixed terminal including acompressible metal spring in said housing; a movable terminal adapted alternatively to contact the housing or the spring and establish an electrical contact with one or the other; a spring urging the movable terminal to establish one of said electrical contacts; and

means to move said terminal to establish the other of said contacts, said means being engaged with said second spring.

6. A switch comprising: an elongated 'hollow metal housing; a metal bezel connected with the housing and formed with a centrally disposed aperture; a push button made of insulating material extending through said bezel aperture; an elongated terminal connected with said push button and having a portion on one end adapted to engage said bezel and establish an electrical contact and the terminal having a plurality of supporting feet on the other end; an elongated base on said housing formed with an aperture and a plurality of slots slidably mounting said feet; a spring to move the terminal and the push button to effect said engagement; a fixed terminal mounted on said base; and a spring operatively interconnected between the base and the fixed terminal, the spring being arranged to be engaged and compressed by said feet to establish an electrical contact between the movable terminal, the spring and the fixed terminal? Furnas July 31, 1951 Higbie et a1. Dec. 20, 1955 

